THAT a man should be stabbed to death in central London at the height of the post-Christmas sales is a tragedy and a worrying sign of the times.

Many might rush to judgment, claiming that this is yet another indication of a consumer society that is out of control.

And though it is indeed shocking this should happen in broad daylight on a busy street we do not yet know all the details and the truth is that the boisterous tradition of bargain-hunting on Boxing Day is usually a good-natured and essentially harmless business.